Exclusive interview with Valentino Rossi

The titan of MotoGP racing opens up in an exclusive, in-depth interview with AUTOSPORT.com. Read about the real Rossi as he discusses his fame and legend status, his rivals past and present, F1, and his future

When Valentino Rossi sits down he is immediately engaged in conversation. There are lines of tiredness in the dark skin shadowing his blue eyes, but the gaze he fixes is alive with vitality.

Katie, Yamaha's press officer delivers Rossi a double espresso, checks he has everything, and leaves us to it. No paranoid protective dictaphone to deter me from asking awkward questions, no listening in from the next table. Just an AUTOSPORT writer and the eight-time world champion in an internal office at Yamaha's race headquarters. This is as exclusive as it gets.